Editor’s note: This is the first in a week-long series looking at prospects under consideration for the New York Rangers with the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. As the University of North Dakota marched along on its run to the NCAA Frozen Four this season, the whispers about Keaton Verhoeff grew louder.Once considered the likely first defenseman off the board in the 2026 NHL Draft, his late-season struggles put that status in doubt among scouts.“Some of the stuff gets exposed as a 17-year-old playing against 22-year-olds,” a Western Conference scout who was granted anonymity to speak freely told The Athletic.After collecting 17 points through his first 22 collegiate games, Verhoeff fell off with no goals and only three assists in his final 14 contests. That included going without a point across his six playoff games in the NCHC and NCAA tournaments, during which he also had some glaring defensive lapses and posted a team-worst minus-four performance in a 5-1 loss to the University of Minnesota Duluth on March 14. But it was the Fighting Hawks’ 5-0 regional final win over Quinnipiac that stood out in North Dakota defensive coach Dillon Simpson’s mind and reminded scouts of Verhoeff’s vast potential that they’d previously been dreaming on.“It was one of his best games of the year,” Simpson recalled. “He was breaking up plays, making great breakout plays, blocking shots, and you can kind of see that that’s there. I think he had a good mindset of improving his D-zone, really focusing on shutting down plays early, not backing in when he didn’t have to, that kind of stuff. It comes with confidence and reps.”With the NHL Draft less than two weeks away, beginning the first round on June 26, clubs are debating whether to bet on Verhoeff blossoming into the force they saw against Quinnipiac, or on him falling short of his high ceiling due to skating concerns and a tendency to cheat for offense. He remains a likely top-10 pick, but cracking the top five will be difficult in a crowded field of defensemen.The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native has fallen behind the likes of Carson Carels, Chase Reid and Alberts Šmits on some draft boards, but still possesses traits that could make him a consideration for the New York Rangers at No. 5.The case for VerhoeffBefore making the jump to college, where Verhoeff was the youngest defenseman in the NCAA, he was a dominant player for the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League.Brad Lauer, head coach of the Spokane Chiefs and defensive assistant for Canada’s 2025-26 World Juniors team, got an up-close look when Victoria played Spokane in the 2025 playoffs.“He was exceptional as a 16-year-old in our league,” said Lauer, who later coached Verhoeff with Team Canada. “He was definitely a kid that was very noticeable when he was on the ice.”Lauer was most impressed with Verhoeff’s knack for creating offense.